Japan is hit by a series of monumental natural disasters that leave the country fragmented and its people devastated. Follow the lives of its citizens as they deal with massive emigration to refugee camps on the Asian mainland and try to solve the political task of rebuilding their nation.

A Spirit of the Sun is also a retelling and melding of two well-known stories in Japan. The setting is directly lifted from the early '70s disaster science-fiction book and movie "Nippon Chinbotsu," (Japan Sinks) while many of the characters are allegorical to the key players in the Eastern classic "Sangokushi" (The Three Kingdoms). Sangokushi aficionados may discover greater entertainment by watching the characters in A Spirit of the Sun closely to spot these resemblances.

From Kaiji Kawaguchi, the author of Silent Service, Eagle and Zipang (as well as the artist for Confession).

A Spirit of The Sun received the 2006 Shogakukan Manga Award for the seinen/general category along with Rainbow by Masasumi Kakizaki and George Abe.

It's a lot more accessible than most of Kawaguchi's extremely nationalistic works. Though this is one too, there's more of a focus on human drama. Which makes it enjoyable for someone like me who's anything but patriotic or politically involved.Still, it's an acquired taste as any. Very un-manga-like style and not the most playful series.